Recently, the narrative has shifted slightly. As of 2024, the issue persists for those relying on default installs, but the solutions have become more streamlined.
The most effective modern fix involves replacing the game's problematic executable entirely. By downloading a "fixed" .exe (often found on sites like GameCopyWorld or via specific Steam guides) that removes the obsolete DRM check, the game can finally run on modern hardware without needing the ghost launcher. This method, while technically a "No-CD/Fixed EXE" workaround usually reserved for piracy, became the only legitimate way for paying customers to play the game they owned.
Furthermore, dedicated Steam Guides now exist that hold the user's hand through the process, providing direct links to the necessary files that Ubisoft deleted.
The year was 2010. Ubisoft, riding high on the success of Assassin’s Creed II and the rejuvenation of the Prince of Persia franchise with 2008’s cel-shaded entry, decided it was time to go back to the roots. They released Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. It was a bridge between the classic Sands of Time trilogy and the wider universe, featuring parkour, elemental powers, and the Prince’s signature wit.
But for a specific group of PC gamers, the game didn't start with a cinematic view of a palace. It started with an error message that would become the stuff of legend: "Ubisoft Game Launcher not found. Please re-install the application."
This is the story of how a piece of DRM software became a ghost, and how the community spent a decade exorcising it.
The game was released in 2010 and originally relied on an old, standalone version of the Ubisoft Game Launcher (a precursor to today’s Ubisoft Connect). That legacy launcher is no longer supported, incompatible with modern Windows security updates, and often fails to install or run correctly on fresh systems.
On a new PC:
Recently, the narrative has shifted slightly. As of 2024, the issue persists for those relying on default installs, but the solutions have become more streamlined.
The most effective modern fix involves replacing the game's problematic executable entirely. By downloading a "fixed" .exe (often found on sites like GameCopyWorld or via specific Steam guides) that removes the obsolete DRM check, the game can finally run on modern hardware without needing the ghost launcher. This method, while technically a "No-CD/Fixed EXE" workaround usually reserved for piracy, became the only legitimate way for paying customers to play the game they owned.
Furthermore, dedicated Steam Guides now exist that hold the user's hand through the process, providing direct links to the necessary files that Ubisoft deleted. Recently, the narrative has shifted slightly
The year was 2010. Ubisoft, riding high on the success of Assassin’s Creed II and the rejuvenation of the Prince of Persia franchise with 2008’s cel-shaded entry, decided it was time to go back to the roots. They released Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. It was a bridge between the classic Sands of Time trilogy and the wider universe, featuring parkour, elemental powers, and the Prince’s signature wit.
But for a specific group of PC gamers, the game didn't start with a cinematic view of a palace. It started with an error message that would become the stuff of legend: "Ubisoft Game Launcher not found. Please re-install the application." By downloading a "fixed"
This is the story of how a piece of DRM software became a ghost, and how the community spent a decade exorcising it.
The game was released in 2010 and originally relied on an old, standalone version of the Ubisoft Game Launcher (a precursor to today’s Ubisoft Connect). That legacy launcher is no longer supported, incompatible with modern Windows security updates, and often fails to install or run correctly on fresh systems. The year was 2010
On a new PC:
